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by
Sri Bimal Mohanty
VOL
No. 67
September 2006
DIMENSIONS OF OUR EXISTENCE- (Gross and Subtle bodies) Part1
Based on the lectures by Sri Bimal Mohanty
QUESTION 1 FROM Sri Bivash Tripathy
Why do Jeevanmuktas have to continue leading human lives and stay in the world? In what way then he/she is mukta?
ANSWER: In
simple language, the concept of Jeevan Mukta (literally meaning one who
has attained freedom in this life) is one who has atoned all the effects
of karma, thus eliminating further need for his own sake to go through
the cycles of birth and death. It is a state when all the delusions of
duality borne out ignorance has been cleared, when total gnosis (purnacaitanya)
envelops the jiva resulting in a state of pure bliss and the jiva is fit
for his union with Brahman.
Jeevanmukta is the highest definition of sainthood and culmination of
the sadhana process.
So why a Jeevanmukta still continues to be associated with life and carries
a physical existence?
As we have discussed in these pages of AHWAN, this divine enterprise or
the creation, moves by the interconnecting actions
Every each one of us descending from Brahman carry his power to be able
to do this duty. But succumbing to maya and different levels of acquired
ignorance that we have, we fail to uphold dharma or partially carry out
dharmacaran. As a result, by every constituent, every jiva that forms
the part of the creation. The principle of control of the creation is
dharma which has to be protected and exercised at all costs. Logically
under normal circumstances, every created being in the lord’s creation
including you, me and everyone is expected to continuously work for the
upliftment and establishment of dharma. That is everyone’s bounden
duty, the undercurrent of our purushartha. duscritas (evil doers) acquire
strength and dharma starts getting depleted.
The world then needs more efforts to set things right. The higher powers
of The Lord are endowed with jeevanmuktas.
Thus we have the descent of saints as reformers. They with their higher
levels of consciousness and again endowed with the grace from the Lord,
are able to achieve so much more. Dharma regains strength and gets reestablished
in the minds of more people.
A jeevanmukta represents and acts out the Divine ordained task by continuing
to remain in this world and living as a part of this world, not for his
own sake but for the sake of strengthening the rule of Dharma. With the
job completed he also departs.
But in every Yuga, there comes a time, the powers of evil gets uncontrollably
strong and dharma gets almost wiped out from the minds of majority of
‘beings’. The task is beyond the powers of normal human beings
as well as the saints.
Then the world needs the intervention of the Divine Himself to descend
and reestablish dharma conquering all the powers of evil. That is the
descent of purna avatars. What is needed, that is done. And when that
is done, they also discard their mortal bodies and leave.
(Further suggested reading: Qustion answer sections of AHWAN May 2005,March
2006 and April 2006)
QUESTION 2 FROM Dr Ganapathy
It is suggested to surrender ourselves to God and our each work(karma) will be an offering to HIM (God). but these ideas(surrender) are not clearly coming to my mind. kindly explain the term and how to surrender
ANSWER: Please
be assured that the problem you have mentioned is even faced by great
saints and wise men. It takes time. Please do not be upset with yourself
as that will not help.
The pre-requisite for developing an attitude of constant surrendering
to God is first to develop the simple attitude of constant awareness of
God. Go on doing your daily worldly duties as usual but in the back of
your mind try to keep telling yourself that God is beside you always and
is your constant companion and guide. As often as you can, keep thinking
that all your activities are being overseen by God and are being done
in His presence. Keep also this in mind that you can not do anything that
might offend Him.
You need not have to recite constantly his name or do japa. Just go about
your normal life but remain aware of His presence at the back of your
mind.
Take the example of a family man. He is devoted to his family but does
not have to keep remembering his wife children and others all the time.
They are always present in the back of his mind.
Will the family man ever do anything that will harm his wife or children.
His natural instinct is to control himself.
The same attitude has to be developed towards God. You keep him in mind
and control all your actions, which you think, will not be approved by
Him.
The surrendering of all actions, then come very naturally and smoothly.
P.S. You may like to go through the articles “Preparations for Sadhana”
especially Part 3 in AHWAN.
.
QUESTION 3 FROM SRI SATYABRATA MISHRA
How does one get into Spiritualism?
ANSWER: You must have had time to go through all the three articles in AHWAN on Manah, mantra and maunatvam where the real purpose and procedure of mantra sAdhanA has been explained. Without going into the truth about such acts, although great power is inherent in mantras, once the real purpose is understood the sAdhaka does not indulge in demonstration of trivial physical spectacles, and thus fritter away its power. There are many many factors that decide the power and effectiveness of mantras. Apart from language, the text, the chanda and the delivery etc, even the environment, time, place also have their influence. But the important of all of them is the understanding and the shraddhA with which the mantra is chanted.
With mantra’s power great changes are brought about both in the external environment as well the internal existence of the sadhak with the only purpose of attaining higher spiritual ‘beingness’ and nothing else.
We hear of many stories and antecedents, like the one you have mentioned. These are invariably unverified facts and a serious aspirant has no inclination towards indulging in them. He is concerned only with the positive aspects of mantra sAdhanA.
QUESTION
4 FROM Ms Renuka
Respected Sir, Thank you for the series of enlightening articles in AHWAN. I am amazed at the depth and expanse of sanatan philosophy as we go on diving deeper. Thank you for whatever little knowledge I have gathered.
ANSWER:
Yes, the depth of sanatan philosophy is unfathomable. The expanse is all pervading. This is the result of the grace of The Lord and the collective wisdom of million minds since the very awakening of human intelligence.
Philosophies which sprouted later, all expound and reflect the same truth in various ways.
Let us hasten also to caution that this statement about the greatness of sanatan philosophy should never be addressed with even the slightest trace of vanity. It belongs to all humanity- nay to the entire creation.
Respect other philosophies too, which believe in the ultimate truth. It is like all hands joining together to reach out to that total consciousness from which flows peace and bliss. Call it by any name, all eventually zero in at the same truth.
